title: Characterization of the C-terminal flanking peptide of human beta-preprotachykinin.
abstract: The nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding the common biosynthetic precursor of substance P, neurokinin A and neuropeptide K (beta-preprotachykinin) predicts that, in the human, the precursor contains a C-terminal flanking peptide of 19 amino acid residues [beta-preprotachykinin(111-129)-peptide]. Using an antiserum raised against synthetic human beta-preprotachykinin(117-126)-peptide in radioimmunoassay, we have demonstrated that an extract of a human neuroendocrine tumor of the adrenal medulla contained approximately equimolar concentrations of C-terminal preprotachykinin immunoreactivity (C-PPT-IR), substance P and neurokinin A. The C-terminal preprotachykinin flanking peptide was purified to homogeneity and its primary structure was determined. The amino acid sequence of the peptide, Ala-Leu-Asn-Ser-Val-Ala-Tyr-Glu-Arg-Ser-Ala-Met-Gln-Asn-Tyr-Glu, indicates identity with beta-preprotachykinin(111-126)-peptide. The data suggest that the C-terminal flanking peptide, like the tachykinins, is packed into secretory storage vesicles but the Arg127-Arg128-Arg129 residues in human beta-preprotachykinin are removed from the peptide by the action of endogenous processing enzyme(s).
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Group for Gastrointestinal Endocrinology, Max-Planck-Society, University of Gottingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: McGregor
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Conlon
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000737:chemistry; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015320:Tachykinins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011498:Protein Precursors; D015320:Tachykinins; C044206:preprotachykinin; C067233:beta-preprotachykinin (111-126)